The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-13
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES.


The fourishing condition of the Kansas
State Historical Society. as shown by its fifth
biennial report, is such Is to make it at
the admiration and despair of less fortunate
associations of the kind in other States.
The Kansas society is recognized as State
institution and one of sufficient Importance to
receive legislative aid. This circumstance
alone places it at great advantage and is
perhaps essential to its prosperity; at all events,
it must attain its ends much more readily
der such auspices than as private organiza-
ton. The success in this case, however, is
largely 1due to the interest in the purposes
OF the society manifested by the people of the
State. Having once understood that the
primary object was the collection Of materials
of Kansas history, public-spirited citizens
were swift to respond. The consequence is
1hown in the vast number of books, pamph-
lets, periodicals, manuscripts, letters, pictures
md miscellaneous objects which have been
contributed to the society. Publishers have
recognized the fact that in newspapers are
found the best materials for the history of
every town and neig hborhood, and have freely
furnished files of their papers. These are
bound and placed on the library shelves and
regarded as among its most valuable posses
sions. The interest, indeed, has not been
confined to residents of the State many
gifts of literary or scientific character hav-
ing been received from all parts of the Union.
To whatever cause this widespread and active
interest may be owing, it is certainly not to
the superior intelligence of the Kansas people
nor to the special necessity for preserving the
history of that State before that of others.
In Indiana for some unexplained reason,
the State Historical Society has been neglect
ed and disregarded by the public. although it
has done and is doing good work, according to
the best of its power. To accomplish what is
desired, however, the few individuals who now
compose the working force of the society must
have the active cooperation of all membe of
the community who are interested in histor-
ical research, or who realize the Importance
of securing a record of events which make
and mark the progress of the country. In
some quarters this interest has been fully
aroused, as for instance, in Henry county,
where local historical and biographical So
ciety recently organized. Such societies,
of which there are several in the State, must
necessarily be of great assistance to the CEN
trail organization, whether working formally
as its auxiliaries or not, and it would be we'll
if one were established in every county. The
Indiana society has made no effort to form a
separate library, preferring to depend upon
the State library and the hope that future
intelligent and liberal Legislature will see the
necessity of adding to this collection of books
and bringing it up to the times. It has di-
rected its labors rather to the collection and
arrangement of such materials fer local his
tory as would not otherwise come into posses
sion of the State and are in danger of being
lost. While its success has not been all that
could be wished, its members are not discour-
aged, but hope to see their fellow citizens
awaken to the Importance of the work and to
participate in it. those of Kansas are doing